Cutting Off the Air Supply of Competitiveness — why Inclusion Matters!

(Google/Reddit)

Reading a recent Brookings article, “Why AI readiness requires digital literacy and inclusion”, offers a magnifying lens on how U.S. policy is undermining its own competitiveness. The article highlights, in May, the current administration froze $2.75 billion in funding for the Digital Equity Act, part of the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act designed to close the digital divide.

Yes, (hard to believe) in 2025 we’re still talking about digital access. But it’s important because access is the foundation of AI adoption. Without broadband, skills training, and basic digital fluency, workers can’t apply for jobs online, small businesses can’t scale, and entire regions are locked out of the global AI economy.

Have a look at the data: The digital divide looks different depending on where you sit, but the reality is stark:

• About 8.8% of U.S. households, roughly 11.5 million homes, lack any internet connection. That’s roughly 12% of Americans, down from 14% in 2021, but still millions left behind (NTIA).
• The rural divide is sharper: 22.3% of Americans in rural areas and 27.7% on Tribal lands lack access to even basic broadband (USDA).
• For low-income families with children, the gap is wider: 22% lack home internet access, with direct consequences for education and career opportunities (Pew/NCES).
• Affordability remains a barrier: in the lowest-income households, internet costs consume at least 9% of monthly income, forcing many to choose between connection and essentials (Brookings/NTIA).

The consequences? Businesses are unable to:

• attract and keep investment
• train a workforce ready for AI-augmented jobs
• enable remote work, telehealth, and online education

Digital access today is like oxygen, cut it off, and you can’t breathe, work, or compete.

Falling Behind While Others Move Forward

At the same time, China and the EU representing 1.86 billion people, roughly a quarter of the worlds population is moving toward inclusive AI:

China Unicom’s release of the “AI Unites All” Plan demonstrates a comprehensive plan and innovative approached in the AI field for digital inclusion in an intelligent world.

• China Unveils Global AI Governance Action Plan Framework: calls for shared infrastructure and capacity-building to make AI more accessible.
• China Releases “AI Plus” Policy: highlights AI literacy, re-employment, and inclusion in education and workforce development.
• “AI Unites All” Plan by China Unicom: focuses on digital inclusion through AI service portals and tools for the public.
• EU Digital Inclusion Policy: requires everyone can contribute to and benefit from digital tools and AI.
• European Approach to Artificial Intelligence: focuses on human-centric, trustworthy AI for all citizens.
• Empowering Mature Students through Inclusive AI Literacy: emphasizes advancing digital equity and social justice in higher education.

By pulling back on digital equity, the U.S. risks creating a two-tier society: one that participates in the AI future, and one that’s left behind. That gap doesn’t just hurt communities it undercuts our bottom line and global standing.

Inclusion Is Not a Side Issue, It’s the Strategy

The Digital Equity Act’s “covered populations” low-income, aging, rural, veterans, people with disabilities, and racial and ethnic minority groups are not peripheral. They are essential contributors to any workforce.

Dismissing these provisions as politically divisive ignores a well-known fact: diversity and inclusion are economic assets. Study after study shows that diverse teams are more innovative but only when every voice is heard (or let’s just say, included.) Businesses that fail to recruit and include workers from all communities shrink their talent pool and limit their competitive edge.

The same logic applies at the national level: inclusion is the engine of innovation and economic growth.

AI readiness is not optional; it’s an economic imperative. Without digital equity, the U.S. weakens its economy and constrains its workforce. If we want to compete, we must treat digital inclusion the way we treat oxygen: fundamental, non-negotiable, and necessary for survival.

I explore this issue of AI & Inclusion in my book Coaching Inclusion: Empowering Behaviours for Positive Change (Palgrave, November 2025). Inclusion should not be an afterthought, it is the foundation for global competitiveness, sustainable business growth, and equitable career opportunities.

More data making the case for AI & Digital Inclusion:

40% of U.S. employees now use AI at work (up from ~20% in 2023)
(Anthropic, Sep 2025)

70% of job skills will change by 2030: AI is the driver
(LinkedIn Work Change Report)

AI use at work nearly doubled in 2 years (21% → 40%)
(Gallup 2025)

78% of orgs used AI in 2024 (up from 55% in 2023)
(Stanford AI Index / U.S. Census)

91% of mid‑market firms now use GenAI
(RSM AI Survey 2025)

88% of executives plan to boost AI budgets in next 12 months
(PwC AI Agent Survey 2025)